Curriculum Night
Grade 5/6
This information package should familiarize you with the curriculum and our class routines. The following is a curriculum outline of outcomes set by the Department of Education:
Language Arts- Grade 5 and 6- The strands include:
Speaking and Listening- Children will be expected to explore and discuss their thoughts and ideas and consider those of others. Asking and responding to questions, giving opinions and listening critically to others are all ongoing components of daily class routines. Small and large group discussions are opportunities to demonstrate proper speaking and listening behaviors. Group interaction is extremely important.
Reading and Viewing- Children will be expected to choose texts appropriate to their learning needs and interests with more independence. Experiencing a wide variety of literature is essential for broadening their reading. It is also expected that they use a variety of strategies to assist them in constructing meaning of what they are reading or viewing. Responding critically to a range of texts will also be a focus.
Writing and Other Ways of Representing- Children will be identifying strategies used, by the people who create a text, to manipulate, persuade, etc. They will represent their ideas and responses to texts in many ways that may include: pictures, story boards, plays, posters, poems, etc.
Expectations will be adjusted according to grade level.
Math- There are seven strands in Math that are the same from Primary to grade 12. They are: Number Sense, Operations, Patterns and Relations, Measurement, Geometry, Data Management, and Probability. The central elements of mathematical curriculum are: mathematical problem solving, communication, reasoning, connections, and representations.
Specific outcomes for grade 5 and 6 are similar and are often built upon and extended in grade 6. Some days a concept will be introduced to the whole class and on other occasions they will be taught separately.
Social Studies- In Social Studies the grade 6 curriculum is focused on culture. We study culture, different world cultures, and the variety of cultures in Canada. Grade 5 themes focus on societies over time starting with Ancient and Medieval societies, Aboriginal and French societies in North America, and society in the 1800s.
Science- Grade 6 topics covered in science include:
Grade 5 topics include:
Inquiry, problem solving and decision-making are important focuses of the science curriculum.
Health- Awareness of self and others, healthy lifestyles, body systems and how they work together, puberty (Grade 5) and other timely topics are focused on in health. DARE is also provided for the grade 6 classes. The Health curriculum for upper elementary is currently changing.
Art- A regular art class is scheduled in our timetable. Different mediums will be experienced this year. We will also look at classic art works to experience a variety of art forms. Seasonal art work may be incorporated into our classes as well.
Technology- Students will have opportunity to use the technology available to produce pieces of work. This may include: research, story writing, videotaping, power points, etc.
More specific information regarding outcomes can be found on the Nova Scotia Department of Education website under Document Depot. Look for Curriculum Documents.
Assessment- Assessment may take many forms such as the following:
Teacher observations
Student self-assessment
Teacher developed rubrics
Student developed rubrics
Unit quizzes
Peer assessment
Written responses
Presentations
Conferences
Group work
Daily work
Communication: The homework notebook is a great tool for communication between home and school as it is checked regularly and should be signed by parents/guardians. Sending an email is also another way to contact me. Please do not hesitate to do so. My address is greencb@staff.ednet.ns.ca
Brenda Greencorn